Refrigerator

ABSTRACT

There are provided, in the order from top, a refrigerating compartment ( 90 ), a vegetable compartment ( 91 ) and a freezing compartment ( 92 ), and a compressor ( 104 ) and a cooler ( 106 ) are disposed in side-by-side relation in a left and right direction at a location rearwardly of the freezing compartment ( 92 ). Also, a damper device ( 115 ) and a forced draft fan ( 114 ) are provided above the compressor ( 104 ) and the cooler ( 106 ), and an electronic control board ( 128 ) is provided rearwardly of the cooler ( 106 ). In addition, a chilly air discharge duct ( 116 ) and a chilly air suction duct ( 121 ) are provided at opposite ends of a deep region within the refrigerating compartment ( 90 ).

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an arrangement of cooling functionalelements or control elements in a refrigerator.

BACKGROUND ART

Recently, there is an increasing demand to increase the capacity ofrefrigerators. On the other hand, the housing problem limits theinstallation space of a refrigerator and, in order to realize anincrease in capacity, it is necessary to reconsider void spaces orspaces having a low practical use within the refrigerator body. Byreducing such spaces, it is possible to enhance the volumetricefficiency and increase the effective internal capacity withoutincreasing the installation space.

Various countermeasures have been proposed to enhance the volumetricefficiency. One of the typical countermeasures is to enhance the heatinsulating efficiency of a heat insulating material in the refrigeratorbody to directly increase the internal volume of a cabinet. Anothertypical countermeasure is to reduce the volume occupied by electroniccontrol boards or cooling functional elements such as a refrigeratingcycle, fans, a damper device, cooling ducts, etc. for cooling thecabinet, because such volume is an ineffectual one with respect to astorage space within the cabinet, though the above elements arenecessary and indispensable.

Because the former countermeasure depends greatly on a technicaldevelopment of the heat insulating material itself, the latter has beenmainly employed to enhance the mounting efficiency of the coolingfunctional elements or the control elements.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 8-338681 discloses this kindof conventional refrigerator.

FIG. 16 is a front view of the conventional refrigerator. FIG. 17 is asectional view of the conventional refrigerator. In FIGS. 16 and 17, 1denotes a refrigerator body, and 2 denotes a heat insulating partitionwall for partitioning the interior of the refrigerator body 1 into upperand lower chambers and having a rising portion 2a on the rear sidethereof. 3 denotes a refrigerating compartment and 4 denotes a vegetablecompartment formed below the refrigerating compartment 3, both locatedseparately above the heat insulating partition wall 2. 5 denotes anupper freezing compartment and 6 denotes a lower freezing compartment,both located separately below the heat insulating partition wall 2.Further, 7 denotes a low-temperature compartment located below therefrigerating compartment 3 and controlled at a temperature lower thanthe temperature in the refrigerating compartment 3.

8 denotes a pivoted door mounted on a front opening of the refrigeratingcompartment 3, and 9, 10, and 11 denote drawer-type doors mounted onfront openings of the vegetable compartment 4, the upper freezingcompartment 5, and the lower freezing compartment 6, respectively.Further, 12, 13, and 14 denote slidable storage containers secured tothe drawer-type doors 9, 10, 11, respectively, and 15 denotes a storagecontainer accommodated within the low-temperature compartment 7. 16denotes shelves for partitioning the refrigerating compartment 3 into aplurality of storage compartments.

17 denotes a machinery compartment formed at a lower portion and a lowerrear portion of the refrigerator body 1. 18 denotes a compressor of arefrigerating cycle disposed inside the machinery compartment andrearwardly of the lower freezing compartment 6, and 19 denotes acondenser disposed below the lower freezing compartment 6. 20 denotes anevaporating dish disposed in a space below the condenser 19 forevaporating water produced by defrosting. 21 denotes a cooler of therefrigerating cycle disposed inside the upper freezing compartment 5 ata rear portion thereof and extending in a vertical direction above thecompressor 18. Further, 22 denotes a forced draft fan disposed above thecooler 21 and confronting the rising portion 2a at a location rearwardlyof the vegetable compartment 4.

23 denotes an air-duct control panel disposed rearwardly of thevegetable compartment 4 and the low-temperature compartment 7 andaccommodating a damper device 24 for regulating the amount of chilly airsupplied to the refrigerating compartment 3 and the vegetablecompartment 4, a damper device 25 for regulating the amount of chillyair supplied to the low-temperature compartment 7, and an electroniccontrol board 26 for controlling electrically-driven devices such as thecompressor 18, the forced draft fan 22, the damper devices 24, 25 andthe like.

27 denotes a first chilly-air discharge duct for introducing into therefrigerating compartment 3 chilly air sent from the forced draft fan 22via the damper device 24. The first chilly-air discharge duct 27 haschilly-air discharge ports 28 defined therein one above another at acentral portion of the refrigerating compartment 3 so as to confront thestorage compartments between the shelves 16. 29 denotes a secondchilly-air discharge duct for introducing the chilly air into thelow-temperature compartment 7 via the damper device 24. The secondchilly-air discharge duct 29 has a chilly-air discharge port 30 definedtherein at a rear portion of the low-temperature compartment 7.

31 denotes a chilly-air suction duct for returning the chilly air fromthe vegetable compartment 4 to the cooler 21 and having a chilly-airsuction port 32 defined therein at a rear portion of the vegetablecompartment 4. The chilly air discharged into the refrigeratingcompartment 3 and the low-temperature compartment 7 circulates from acommunication port 33 defined in a lower rear portion of thelow-temperature compartment 7 to the chilly-air suction port 32 via aperipheral portion of the storage container 12 of the vegetablecompartment.

34 denotes a chilly-air discharge port for discharging the chilly airfrom the forced draft fan 22 into the upper freezing compartment 5 andthe lower freezing compartment 6. The rising portion 2a of the heatinsulating wall is positioned in front of the chilly-air discharge port34 so as to direct the chilly air downwardly. Further, 35 denotes achilly-air suction port for returning the chilly air to a lower portionof the cooler 21.

36 denotes a temperature detector mounted on a rear wall of the upperfreezing compartment 5 for detecting the temperature inside the freezingcompartments. 37 denotes a temperature detector mounted on a rear wallof the refrigerating compartment 3 for detecting the temperature insidethe refrigerating compartment. 38 denotes a temperature detector mountedon a rear wall of the low-temperature compartment 7 for detecting thetemperature inside the low-temperature compartment.

Further, 39 denotes a defrosting heater adjacent to a lower portion ofthe cooler 21, 40 denotes a drip pan for receiving water produced bydefrosting, and 41 denotes a discharge pipe. The discharge pipe 41communicates the drip pan 40 with the evaporating dish 20.

The operation of the refrigerator of the above-described construction isexplained hereinafter.

When the temperature detected by the temperature detector 36 is higherthan a set value, the compressor 18 is operated, and chilly air cooledby the cooler 21 is caused to forcibly flow by the forced draft fan 22and is discharged into the upper freezing compartment 5 and the lowerfreezing compartment 6 via the chilly-air discharge port 34. Thereafter,the chilly air is returned to the cooler 21 via the chilly-air suctionport 35. When the temperature detected by the temperature detector 36becomes lower than the set value, the compressor 18 is stopped. Suchoperations are repeatedly carried out, and the interior of the freezingcompartments is cooled to, for example, a freezing temperature of −18°C.

When the temperatures detected by the temperature detectors 36, 37 arehigher than respective set values, the damper device 24 is opened, andthe chilly air cooled by the cooler 21 is caused to forcibly flow by theforced draft fan 22 and is discharged into the refrigerating compartment3 via the first chilly-air discharge duct 27 and the chilly-airdischarge ports 28. The chilly air that has cooled the interior of therefrigerating compartment 3 flows into an upper portion of the vegetablecompartment 4 via the communication port 33 and indirectly cools theinterior of the vegetable compartment 4 through the storage container12. The chilly air then passes through the chilly-air suction port 32and the chilly-air suction duct 31 before it returns to the cooler 21.Thereafter, when the temperature detected by the temperature detector 37becomes lower than the set value, the damper device 24 is closed. Suchoperations are repeatedly carried out, and the interior of therefrigerating compartment 3 is cooled to, for example, a refrigeratingtemperature of 4° C., while the interior of the vegetable compartment 4is cooled to, for example, a refrigerating temperature of 6° C.

When the temperatures detected by the temperature detectors 36, 38 arehigher than respective set values, the damper device 25 is opened, andthe chilly air cooled by the cooler 21 is caused to forcibly flow by theforced draft fan 22 and is discharged into the low-temperaturecompartment 7 via the second chilly-air discharge duct 29 and thechilly-air discharge port 30. The chilly air that has cooled theinterior of the low-temperature compartment 7 flows into an upperportion of the vegetable compartment 4 via the communication port 33 andindirectly cools the interior of the vegetable compartment 4 through thestorage container 12. The chilly air then passes through the chilly-airsuction port 32 and the chilly-air suction duct 31 before it returns tothe cooler 21. Thereafter, when the temperature detected by thetemperature detector 38 becomes lower than the set value, the damperdevice 25 is closed. Such operations are repeatedly carried out, and theinterior of the low-temperature compartment 7 is cooled to, for example,a chilling temperature of 0° C. or a partially freezing temperature of−6° C.

On the other hand, from the viewpoint of the mounting efficiency of thecooling functional elements or the control elements, the cooler 21 as acooling source is disposed unevenly with respect to the vegetablecompartment 4 having a high inner temperature and is located adjacent toand rearwardly of the upper freezing compartment 5 having a lowest innertemperature, making it possible to reduce a temperature drop inside thevegetable compartment 4 and effectively cool the upper freezingcompartment 5 and the lower freezing compartment 6.

In particular, because the upper freezing compartment 5 and the lowerfreezing compartment 6 are disposed at a lower portion of therefrigerator body 1, it is inevitably possible to lower the position ofthe cooler 21, thus eliminating a dead space between the machinerycompartment 17 and the cooler 21. Further, because the positions of theforced draft fan 22 and the damper devices 24, 25 disposed above thecooler 21 can be lowered, the mounting efficiency can be enhanced andthe effective utilization of the interior of the cabinet can beachieved. In addition, the center of gravity of the refrigerator body 1can be lowered, enhancing the stability.

Also, because the electronic control board 26 for controlling theelectric parts is not disposed at an upper rear portion of therefrigerator body 1 but is accommodated within the air-duct controlpanel 23 at a central portion of the cabinet, the distances between itand the electric parts such as the compressor 18, the forced draft fan22, the damper devices 24, 25, the defrosting heater 39 and the like,all of which are positioned substantially below the center of therefrigerator body, are reduced as compared with those in theconventional refrigerators, making it possible to reduce the cost forwiring and the assembling work.

In the above-described conventional construction, however, because thecompressor 18 is accommodated within the machinery compartment 17 thatis formed rearwardly of the lower freezing compartment 6 and extendsover the full width thereof, there arises a problem in that a large deadspace is created within the machinery compartment 17 in the directionwidthwise thereof.

Further, because the cooler 21 is disposed above the compressor 18, ifthe cooler 21 is so designed as to have a height enough to provide asufficient cooling capacity, an upper end surface of the cooler 21inevitably reaches the heat insulating partition wall 2. As a result,the forced draft fan 22 disposed adjacent to an upper portion of thecooler 21 is positioned above the upper freezing compartment 5 and,hence, the heat insulating partition wall 2 must have the rising portion2a extending upwardly from a rear portion thereof so as to insulate theforced draft fan 22 and the vegetable compartment 4 from each other,thus complicating the construction and increasing the ineffectualvolume.

Also, the arrangement in which the rising portion 2a of the heatinsulating partition wall 2, the forced draft fan 22, and the air-ductcontrol panel 23 are disposed rearwardly violates the depth of thelow-temperature compartment 7 and reduces the storage capacity thereof.That is, the storage compartment that is positioned substantially at acentral level of the refrigerator and is, hence, easiest to use comes tohave a reduced capacity.

In order for such a refrigerator to ensure the capacity of the cabinet,it is necessary to increase the depth of the refrigerator body 1, forexample. However, if the refrigerator protrudes from a cupboard adjacentthereto, the indoor appearance is deteriorated.

Further, because the condenser 19 and the evaporating dish 20 aredisposed one above the other inside a bottom portion of the refrigeratorbody 1, the bottom portion must have a height enough to ensure the heatradiating capacity of the condenser 19 and the evaporating capacity ofthe evaporating dish 20, thus violating the space for the storagecompartment and reducing the volumetric efficiency.

Also, because the chilly-air discharge duct 27 is provided at a centralportion of the refrigerator 3, it protrudes toward and violates thecentral portion of the cabinet that is easy to use. In order to enhancethe value of goods, if the entire rear wall of the refrigeratingcompartment including the protrusion at the central portion is coveredwith an ornamental cover, the ineffectual space is further increased.Further, because the chilly air discharge is conducted from a pluralityof discharge ports formed at the central portion, while the chilly airsuction is conducted through only the communication port 33 formed at alower portion of the refrigerating compartment, there arises a problemin that temperature variations are likely to occur in the horizontaldirection inside the refrigerating compartment 3.

Although the position of the electronic control board 26 is improved ascompared with that in the conventional refrigerators in which it islocated at an upper rear portion of the refrigerator body, it is stilldistant from the compressor 18, the defrosting heater 39 and the like.Accordingly, the length of electric wires cannot be sufficientlyshortened.

The present invention has been developed to overcome the above-describeddisadvantages, and a first objective of the present invention is toprovide a refrigerator having an enhanced volumetric efficiency, anincreased storage capacity and an enhanced stability by enhancing themounting efficiency of the cooling functional elements and the controlelements.

A second objective of the present invention is to provide a refrigeratorhaving an increased storage capacity in an easy-to-use region positionedat a central level of the refrigerator.

A third objective of the present invention is to provide a refrigeratorin which the electronic control boards are arranged efficiently tothereby simplify the arrangement of electric wires.

A fourth objective of the present invention is to provide a refrigeratorcapable of suppressing temperature variations within the refrigerator.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

In accomplishing the above and other objectives, the refrigerator of thepresent invention is a refrigerator which comprises a refrigeratingcycle including a compressor, a condenser and a cooler, and arefrigerator body having a storage compartment defined therein, and inwhich the compressor and the cooler are disposed on left and right sidesat a location rearwardly of the storage compartment. By thisconstruction, a void space in a widthwise direction that is formed bybiasing the compressor towards one side is used as a space forinstallation of the cooler with the height of installation of the coolerconsequently lowered. As a result thereof, the mounting efficiency ofthe refrigerating cycle can be increased, the inner volumetricefficiency can be increased, and the preserving ability and thestability can be enhanced.

The present invention can be equally applied to a refrigerator whereinthe refrigerator body has a plurality of storage compartments definedtherein. In such case, by disposing the compressor and the cooler onleft and right sides at a location rearwardly of one of the storagecompartments, the storage capacity and the easiness to use can beincreased without invading a deep space of the other compartments.

If the compressor and the cooler are disposed rearwardly of thelowermost storage compartment, the refrigerator having a lower center ofgravity and, hence, a stability can be provided.

Also, the storage compartments may include two compartments locatedwithin the refrigerator body on left and right sides thereof. In suchcase, because the compressor and the cooler are disposed on left andright sides at a location rearwardly of the two storage compartments,the void space in the widthwise direction within the refrigerator of atype having a relatively large width can be effectively utilized toincrease the freedom of design of cooling functional component parts.

If the compressor and the cooler are so disposed as to confrontrearwardly of the respective compartments, any possible influencebrought on the deep space for storage of the compressor can be limitedto one compartment and the easiness-to-use can be increased.

If the compressor and the cooler are positioned at a lower rear regionof the storage compartment, the refrigerator can have a lower center ofgravity with the stability thereof consequently increased.

If the refrigerator body is further provided with a machinerycompartment and a cooling compartment positioned on left and rightsides, respectively, with a heat insulating wall positionedtherebetween, and the compressor and the cooler are accommodated withinthe machinery compartment and the cooling compartment, respectively, thevoid space in the widthwise direction that is created by biasing themachinery compartment to one side can be used as a cooling compartmentfor installation of the cooler. Accordingly, the height of installationof the cooler can be lowered to thereby increase the effective innervolume of the refrigerator.

If a bottom end surface of the cooler is positioned at a level lowerthan an upper end surface of the compressor, the height of installationof the cooler can further be lowered, making it possible to prevent theother compartment space from being influenced and to further reduce thesize thereof.

If a forced draft fan is provided in the cooling compartment forsupplying a forced draft of air to the storage compartment and ispositioned rearwardly of the storage compartment provided with thecooler, the cooling functional component parts including the compressorand the cooler can be collected without the other compartments beinginvaded and no complicated partitioning structure relative to the othercompartments is needed.

Also, if a damper device is provided for controlling an amount of chillyair to be supplied to at least one of the storage compartments and ispositioned rearwardly of the storage compartment confronting thecompressor, the cooling functional component parts including thecompressor, the cooler and the damper device can be collected at onelocation to thereby reduce the size and, therefore, the assemblingability during the manufacturing process and the capability ofdismantling at the time of discard can be increased.

Furthermore, if the forced draft fan is disposed above the cooler andthe damper device is disposed above the compressor, a space rearwardlyabove the freezing compartment can be utilized to efficiently install anair passage, allowing the void space to be effectively utilized.

If the forced draft fan is disposed at a location adjacent an upperportion of the cooler so as to extend obliquely upwardly, the height ofthe cooling compartment can be further suppressed, resulting in areduction in size.

Also, if the plural storage compartments have at least refrigerating andfreezing compartments, the damper device controls the amount of chillyair to be supplied to the refrigerating compartment, and the compressorand the cooler are disposed rearwardly of the freezing compartment, thefreezing compartment having the lowest temperature can be positioned inthe vicinity of the cooler to thereby increase the cooling efficiency.

If the refrigerating compartment is formed at an upper portion of therefrigerator body and the freezing compartment is formed at a lowerportion of the refrigerator body, the stability can be increased with adisposition of the high cooling efficiency, and the easiness-to-use canbe increased without the deep space of the highly frequently usedrefrigerating compartment being adversely affected.

If a vegetable compartment is formed below the refrigerating compartmentand an amount of chilly air to be supplied to the refrigeratingcompartment and the vegetable compartment is controlled by the damperdevice, the depthwise space of the vegetable compartment at a positionintermediate of the height easy to use can be secured sufficiently.

If the cooler is positioned rearwardly of the freezing compartment andthe forced draft fan is disposed at a location upwardly rearwardly ofthe freezing compartment, even where the height of the freezingcompartment is further limited, the cooling functional component partscan be integrated, making best use of the efficient inner volume.

Also, if an electronic control board is disposed rearwardly of thecooler, electric wiring can be integrated at an area adjacent electriccomponent parts and can therefore be shortened and simplified, making itpossible to provide the refrigerator having an excellent assemblingability and economic aspect.

If the electronic control board is accommodated within an electriccomponent storage recess formed in the heat insulating wall rearwardlyof the cooler, it is possible to install the electronic control boardwithout being protruding outwardly from the rear of the body and,therefore, there is no possibility that an ineffectual space may beformed in the depthwise direction.

If an evaporating dish is disposed below the cooler for receivingdefrosted water from the cooler, a drain passage can be simplified.Accordingly, because even when the position of the cooler is lowered,the defrosted water can be discharged in a vertical direction andstored, the evaporating dish can be provided without the height of themachinery compartment increased.

If an additional forced draft fan is provided for forcibly cooling thecompressor within the machinery compartment, the machinery compartmenthaving a relatively small space volume can secure a required amount ofheat radiation.

If the condenser is disposed within the machinery compartment and isforcibly cooled by a fan, the cooling functional component parts can beefficiently integrated while securing the capability of a high-pressureside cooling system.

If the condenser is disposed at a bottom of the refrigerator body and isforcibly cooled by the forced draft fan, a space at the bottom of therefrigerator body can be utilized effectively.

If the evaporating dish is disposed in a passage for flow of the airinduced by the forced draft fan, evaporation of the defrosted water canbe promoted by the effect of a forced air draft induced by the fan.

Also, if the compressor and the evaporating dish are disposed upstreamand downstream of the forced draft fan, respectively, and heat of thecompressor is guided towards the evaporating dish, evaporation of thedefrosted water can further be promoted by the effect of flow of heatfrom the high-temperature compressor.

Alternatively, if a portion of the condenser is disposed at a positionwhere the evaporating dish is heated, heating of the evaporating dishcan be promoted, allowing an evaporating power to be secured even with asmall evaporating dish.

If a chilly air discharge duct communicating between the damper deviceand the refrigerating compartment is disposed vertically at a positionadjacent one lateral end of a deep region of the refrigeratingcompartment and a chilly air suction duct leading to the cooler isdisposed vertically at a position adjacent the opposite lateral end ofthe deep region of the refrigerating compartment, a central space thatis easy to use is increased, accompanied by an enhancement ineasiness-to-store.

Also, if a chilly air discharge port provided in the chilly airdischarge duct and a chilly air suction port provided in the chilly airsuction duct are formed adjacent respective lateral ends of therefrigerating compartment, the chilly air circulates in a widthwisedirection inside the refrigerator to thereby reduce a temperaturevariation within the refrigerator compartment, allowing the preservingability for food materials to be increased.

If a second forced draft fan for circulating air inside therefrigerating compartment is employed, air inside the refrigeratingcompartment can be circulated and stirred to thereby reduce thetemperature variation and temperature increase within the compartment,allowing the preserving ability for food materials to be furtherincreased.

Also, if an electric component cover of the compressor is disposed so asto be oriented towards an open side rearwardly of the machinerycompartment, no space is required for removal and fitting of theelectric component cover in the widthwise direction of the compressor.Accordingly, the width of the machinery compartment can be shortenedwith the void space consequently reduced.

Alternatively, the electric component cover of the compressor may bedisposed at a location laterally of the machinery compartment. In suchcase, an opening and a cover for covering the opening may be provided ata portion confronting the electric component cover. Because no distanceto a side surface of the machinery compartment is needed during removaland fitting of the electric component cover, the width of the machinerycompartment can be shortened with the void space consequently reduced.

If piping for the refrigerating cycle is accommodated rearwardly of anoutdoor side of the cooling compartment, effective utilization ispossible without the space for the machinery compartment being invaded.

If there is provided a fixture for fixing a dryer and a condenser pipingof the refrigerating cycle to an outdoor rear surface of therefrigerating compartment, the fitting workability can be increased andhigh-pressure piping can be neatly arranged.

If a resinous molded product is used for an external shell forming themachinery compartment, a complicated shape including the machinerycompartment can be integrally molded, making it possible to provide therefrigerator having an excellent economic aspect.

In addition, if the resinous molded product used for the external shellforming the machinery compartment is formed integrally with a fixturefor fixing a dryer and a condenser piping of the refrigerating cycle,the piping can be fixed without the separate fixture being fitted,thereby increasing the assembling ability.

Also, if the resinous molded product used for the external shell formingthe machinery compartment is formed integrally with a holder for holdingthe evaporating dish that receives defrosted water, the evaporating dishcan be fixed with no need to use the separate holder, thereby achievingan economic improvement.

Also, the refrigerator of the present invention is characterized bycomprising a refrigerating compartment, a vegetable compartment definedbelow the refrigerating compartment, a freezing compartment separatedfrom the vegetable compartment by a heat insulating partition walldisposed below the vegetable compartment, a machinery compartmentdefined adjacent one of opposite sides and rearwardly of the freezingcompartment, a cooling compartment defined adjacent the other of theopposite sides and separated from the machinery compartment by a heatinsulating wall, a compressor disposed within the machinery compartment,a cooler disposed within the cooling compartment, a forced draft fandisposed within the cooling compartment at a location adjacent an upperportion of the cooler, a damper device disposed rearwardly of thefreezing compartment for controlling an amount of chilly air to besupplied to the refrigerating and vegetable compartments, and anelectronic control board provided rearwardly of the cooling compartment.The compressor and the cooler are juxtaposed in a side-by-side fashionin a leftward and rightward direction.

With this structure, the cooling functional component parts and controlcomponent parts are integrated rearwardly of the freezing compartment ina lower region, accompanied by increase of the mounting efficiency andreduction of the void space within the refrigerator body. Also, thecooling functional component parts and control component parts areexcluded from a lower region of the refrigerating compartment and thevegetable compartment at a central region that is easy to use and astorage space increases deep into the refrigerator body and, therefore,the inner volumetric efficiency can be increased.

If there are provided a multipurpose compartment defined above the heatinsulating partition wall and a second damper device disposed rearwardlyof the freezing compartment for controlling an amount of chilly air tobe supplied to the multipurpose compartment, the cooling functionalcomponent parts and control component parts are integrated rearwardly ofthe freezing compartment in a lower region and the void space within therefrigerator body can be reduced. Also, the cooling functional componentparts and control component parts are excluded from a lower region ofthe refrigerating compartment and the vegetable compartment at a centralregion that is easy to use and a storage space increases deep into therefrigerator body and, therefore, the inner volumetric efficiency can beincreased. In addition, the temperature inside the multipurposecompartment is independently controlled and a temperature zoneappropriate to the food materials stored can be selected by the user,accompanied by increase of the easiness-to-use.

Also, if there are further provided a chilly air discharge duct providedvertically at a location adjacent one side end of a deep region of therefrigerating compartment in communication with the damper device, achilly air discharge port provided in the chilly air discharge ductwithin the refrigerating compartment, a chilly air suction duct providedvertically at a location adjacent the opposite side end of the deepregion of the refrigerating compartment for communicating between therefrigerating compartment and the cooler, a chilly air suction portprovided in the chilly air suction duct within the refrigeratingcompartment, and a chilly air suction port provided within the vegetablecompartment in communication with the chilly air suction duct, thestructural space of the passage for cooling the refrigeratingcompartment will not invade the effective space at a central area of thecompartment that is easy to handle and any possible cooling variationinside the refrigerating compartment can be reduced as a result of thechilly air circulated in the widthwise direction of the compartment as awhole, thereby increasing the capability of the food materials to bestored. In addition, a chilly air duct for the vegetable compartment caneasily be formed merely by communicating the chilly air suction port ofthe vegetable compartment to an intermediate portion of the chilly airsuction duct for the refrigerating compartment.

Also, there may be further provided a chilly air discharge duct providedvertically at a location adjacent one side end of a deep region of therefrigerating compartment in communication with the damper device, achilly air discharge port provided in the chilly air discharge ductwithin the refrigerating compartment, a second chilly air discharge ductcommunicating between the second damper device and the multipurposecompartment, a chilly air discharge port provided in the second chillyair discharge port for the multipurpose compartment, a chilly airsuction duct provided vertically at a location adjacent the oppositeside end of the deep region of the refrigerating compartment forcommunicating between the refrigerating compartment and the cooler, achilly air suction port provided in the chilly air suction duct withinthe refrigerating compartment, a chilly air suction port provided withinthe vegetable compartment in communication with the chilly air suctionduct, a second chilly air suction duct communicating between themultipurpose compartment and the cooler, and a chilly air suction portprovided in the multipurpose compartment and communicated with thesecond chilly air suction duct. Similarly, even in this case, thestructural space of the passage for cooling the refrigeratingcompartment will not invade the effective space at a central area of thecompartment that is easy to handle and any possible cooling variationinside the refrigerating compartment can be reduced as a result of thechilly air circulated in the widthwise direction of the compartment as awhole, thereby increasing the capability of the food materials to bestored. In addition, a chilly air duct for the vegetable compartment caneasily be formed merely by communicating the chilly air suction port ofthe vegetable compartment to an intermediate portion of the chilly airsuction duct for the refrigerating compartment. Moreover, because thepassage is constructed independent of the multipurpose compartment, theindependence of the temperature control can be enhanced.

If there are further provided heat insulating partition walls above andbelow the multipurpose compartment, and if it is used as a temperaturechangeover compartment, the temperature inside the multipurposecompartment can be adjusted to a value ranging from refrigeration tofreezing. As a result, the freedom of selection by the user relative tothe amounts of many compartments of fixed temperature zones can beincreased, accompanied by the convenience.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a refrigerator according to a firstembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of an essential portion of the refrigeratorof FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the essential portion of the refrigerator ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view, as viewed from behind, of the essentialportion of a refrigerator according to a second embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 5 is a front view of a refrigerator according to a third embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view of the refrigerator of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line VII—VII in FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line VIII—VIII in FIG. 5.

FIG. 9 is a front view of a refrigerator according to a fourthembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a vertical sectional view of the refrigerator of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along line XI—XI in FIG. 9.

FIG. 12 is a front view of a refrigerator according to a fifthembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a vertical sectional view of the refrigerator of FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a front view of a refrigerator according to a sixthembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a front view of a refrigerator according to a seventhembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a front view of a conventional refrigerator.

FIG. 17 is a vertical sectional view of the refrigerator of FIG. 16.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Several embodiments of a refrigerator according to the present inventionare explained hereinafter with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1)

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a refrigerator according to a firstembodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a sectional view of anessential portion of the refrigerator according to the same embodiment.FIG. 3 is a rear view of the essential portion of the refrigeratoraccording to the same embodiment.

In FIGS. 1 to 3, 42 denotes a refrigerator body comprised of an externalbox 43 made of a steel plate, an internal box 44 made of a resin, and aheat insulating wall 46 formed by foaming or expanding a heat insulatingmaterial in a space between the external box 43 and the internal box 44.47 denotes a heat insulating partition wall for partitioning theinterior of the refrigerator body 42 into upper and lower storagechambers. The upper storage chamber 51 includes a refrigeratingcompartment 48, a vegetable compartment 49, and a temperature changeovercompartment 50 capable of changing over a temperature zone to allow bothfreezing and refrigerating, all of which are formed in this order fromabove. The lower storage chamber 52 (hereinafter referred to as afreezing compartment 52) has a refrigerating temperature zone.

53 denotes a pivoted door for the refrigerating compartment 48, while54, 55 and 56 denote drawer-type doors for the vegetable compartment,the temperature changeover compartment, and the freezing compartment,respectively. 57 denotes a storage container that is drawn out togetherwith the drawer-type door 54 for the vegetable compartment, 58 denotes astorage container that is drawn out together with the drawer-type door55 for the temperature changeover compartment, 59 denotes a storagecontainer that is drawn out together with the drawer-type door 56 forthe freezing compartment, and 60 denotes an upper storage containermounted above the storage container 59.

A cooling compartment 63 accommodating a cooler 61 of a refrigeratingcycle and a forced draft fan 62 disposed adjacent to an upper portion ofthe cooler 61 is formed rearwardly of the freezing compartment 52 on oneside thereof. The forced draft fan 62 is inclined so as to extendobliquely upwardly. 64 denotes a drip pan disposed at a bottom portionof the cooling compartment 63 for receiving water produced by defrostingthe cooler 61, and 65 denotes a discharge pipe extending through theheat insulating wall 46 from the drip pan 64 and led outside a room. Onthe other hand, a machinery compartment 67 accommodating a compressor 66is formed rearwardly of the freezing compartment 52 on the other sidethereof, with the heat insulating wall 46 interposed between it and thecooling compartment 63.

The cooler 61 and the compressor 66 are juxtaposed with each other in aside-by-side fashion with the heat insulating wall 46 interposedtherebetween. That is, the cooler 61 is not disposed immediately abovethe compressor 66, and they are separated from each other in thewidthwise direction of the refrigerator body 42. Although the compressor66 is generally disposed adjacent to a bottom portion or a lowermostportion of the refrigerator body 42, the level of a lower end of thecooler 61 does not always fall within the height of the compressor 66because a space for accommodating the heat insulating wall 46 and thedrip pan 64 must be formed below the cooler 61.

68 denotes an evaporating dish disposed below the cooling compartment 63at a bottom portion of the refrigerator body 42, and the discharge pipe65 is open to the evaporating dish 68. 69 denotes a forced draft fandisposed within the machinery compartment 67 and between the compressor66 and the evaporating dish 68 for cooling the compressor 66 and, hence,the compressor 66 and the evaporating dish 68 are placed in an airwayfrom the forced draft fan 69. 70 denotes a cover for electric elementson the compressor 66, which is oriented to the open side rearwardly ofthe machinery compartment 67.

An external shell that forms a bottom portion and a lower rear portionof the refrigerator body 42 and also forms the shape of the machinerycompartment 67 is unitarily formed from a thermoplastic resin andconstitutes a machinery compartment panel 71. 72 denotes a dryer of therefrigerating cycle, and 73 denotes a condensation pipe extending fromthe compressor 66 to the dryer 72. The dryer 72 and the condensationpipe 73 are disposed rearwardly of the cooling compartment 63 andaccommodated within a space 74 defined by the machinery compartmentpanel 71. The dryer 72 and the condensation pipe 73 are fixed by hookedfixing members 75, 76 integrally formed with the machinery compartmentpanel 71. 77 denotes a rail-shaped holder integrally formed with a lowerportion of the machinery compartment panel 71 for holding theevaporating dish 68. 78 denotes a rear cover for covering the machinerycompartment 67 and the space 74.

79 and 80 denote damper devices juxtaposed with each other on one sideof the forced draft fan 62 within the cooling compartment 63. The damperdevice 79 controls the amount of cooling or chilly air supplied to therefrigerating compartment 48 and the vegetable compartment 49, while thedamper device 80 controls the amount of chilly air supplied to thetemperature changeover compartment 50. 81 denotes a chilly-air dischargeduct extending from the damper device 79 to the refrigeratingcompartment 48, and 82 denotes a chilly-air discharge duct extendingfrom the damper device 80 to the temperature changeover compartment 50.

The operation of the refrigerator of the above-described construction isexplained hereinafter.

Chilly air produced by the cooler 61 is first discharged into thefreezing compartment 52 by the forced draft fan 62 to cool the interiorthereof to a freezing temperature (for example, −18° C.). Under thecontrol of the damper device 79, part of the chilly air is thendischarged into the refrigerating compartment 48 through the chilly-airdischarge duct 81. Similarly, under the control of the damper device 80,the remaining chilly air is discharged into the temperature changeovercompartment 50 through the chilly-air discharge duct 82. The chilly airintroduced into the refrigerating compartment 48 cools the interiorthereof to a refrigerating temperature (for example, 4° C.) and is thenintroduced into the vegetable compartment 49 to cool the interiorthereof to a predetermined temperature (for example, 6° C.). On theother hand, the chilly air introduced into the temperature changeovercompartment 50, cools the interior thereof to a desired temperature (forexample, a freezing temperature of −18° C., a partially freezingtemperature of −3° C., a chilling temperature of 0° C., a refrigeratingtemperature of 4° C. or the like) in a temperature zone allowing boththe freezing and the refrigerating depending on the selection by atemperature regulator (not shown).

In regard to the arrangement of the refrigerating cycle, the compressor66 is off to the side from the vertical centerline of the refrigeratorbody 42. As a result of reducing the ineffectual space within themachinery compartment 67, the width of the machinery compartment 67 isreduced to half the width of the refrigerator body 42. In considerationof the depth and height with which the cooling capacity is maintained,the cooler 61 is accommodated within the space newly created on theinner side of the refrigerator body 42 by reducing the ineffectualspace.

As a result, the compressor 66 and the cooler 61 are disposed in aside-by-side fashion with the heat insulating wall 46 interposedtherebetween. This arrangement makes it possible to minimize anineffectual space in the widthwise direction of the refrigerator, whichspace has hitherto been created by placing the cooler 61 above thecompressor 66, thus increasing the effective storage capacity.

With the side-by-side arrangement of the compressor 66 and the cooler61, both of which are heavy, the center of gravity of the refrigeratorbody 42 becomes lower than that of the conventional one, enhancing thestability.

Further, because the level of the cooler 61 and that of the forced draftfan 62 disposed above the cooler 61 are both lowered, a rear space ofthe vegetable compartment 49 and the temperature changeover compartment50 is not violated and, hence, the storage container 57 in the vegetablecompartment 49 and the storage container 58 in the temperaturechangeover compartment 50 can be increased in depth to the positionsadjacent to the heat insulating wall 46, making it possible to increasethe storage capacity.

The arrangement in which the forced draft fan 62 is inclined obliquelyat an upper rear portion of the cooling compartment 63 can furtherreduce the height of the cooling compartment 63, thus accommodating thecooling compartment 63 within only a rear region of the freezingcompartment 52 and providing the same effects as above.

If the cooling compartment 63 in which the cooler 61 and the forceddraft fan 62 are both accommodated does not fall within the height ofthe freezing compartment 52 (for example, if a desired cooling capacityof the whole refrigerator must be ensured by increasing the size of thecooler 61 and that of the forced draft fan 62, or if the capacity andheight of the freezing compartment 52 must be reduced in considerationof those of other compartments), the forced draft fan 62 may bepartially or entirely placed above a region positioned rearwardly of thefreezing compartment 52. By so doing, the compressor 66, the cooler 61and the forced draft fan 62 can be brought close to one another whileensuring an increase in inner volumetric efficiency caused by theside-by-side arrangement of the compressor 66 and the cooler 61, therebyenhancing the mounting efficiency.

In place of increasing the storage capacity, the height of the vegetablecompartment may be reduced. Because the vegetable compartment becomesshallow and wide, the interior thereof can be easily seen and, hence,the piling up of vegetables is reduced, resulting in an easy-to-usevegetable compartment having a superior preserving ability.

Further, because it is not necessary to provide a space foraccommodating the forced draft fan 62 at a rear portion of the vegetablecompartment 49, the heat insulating partition wall 47 disposed above thefreezing compartment 52 may not have a rising portion which has hithertobeen formed therewith at a rear portion thereof, thus reducing theineffectual volume and increasing the effective storage capacity.

An increase in depth of the storage compartments makes it possible toreduce the depth of the refrigerator body. A reduction in depth of therefrigerator body in turn prevents the refrigerator from protruding froma cupboard adjacent thereto, thus enhancing the indoor appearance.

Also, because the evaporating dish 68 is disposed immediately below thecooling compartment 63, the discharge pipe 65 is short, and thestructure around it can be simplified. Further, the forced ventilatingaction of the compressor-cooling forced draft fan 69 causes warm air toflow over the surface of the water stored in the evaporating dish 68,thus promoting evaporation of the water produced by defrosting.Accordingly, the size of the evaporating dish 68 can be reduced. If theforced draft fan 69 is arranged to send air from the compressor 66toward the evaporating dish 68, high-temperature heat from thecompressor 66 can be utilized and, hence, evaporation of the water inthe evaporating dish 68 is further promoted without providing anadditional heating means, resulting in a reduction in size of therefrigerator.

Moreover, because the cover 70 for electric elements on the compressor66 is directed to the open side of the machinery compartment 67, a spacefor attaching or removing the cover 70 is not required, making itpossible to reduce the width of the machinery compartment 67. As aresult, it becomes possible to increase the width of the coolingcompartment 63 located beside the machinery compartment 67 and, hence,it is possible to increase the width of the cooler 61 and reduce theheight thereof. Accordingly, the height of the cooling compartment 63can be reduced, providing a compact structure and further increasing theeffective volume.

Also, the thickness of the cooler 61 is smaller than that of thecompressor 66 and, hence, the depth on the side of the coolingcompartment 63 can be made smaller than that on the side of thecompressor 66, thus creating the space 74 rearwardly of the coolingcompartment 63. The dryer 72 and the condensation pipe 73 of therefrigerating cycle can be efficiently accommodated within this space 74without violating the space inside the machinery compartment 67.

Further, the fixing members and the holding member for the dryer 72 andthe condensation pipe 73 can be integrally formed with the machinerycompartment panel 71, which forms a bottom portion and a lower rearportion of the refrigerator body 42, by molding the machinerycompartment panel 71 from a resinous material. In addition, the externalshell forming the relatively uneven machinery compartment 67 is notcomprised of a plurality of component parts, but is of one-piececonstruction, making it possible to reduce the manufacturing cost of therefrigerator and improve the assembling workability.

(Embodiment 2)

FIG. 4 is a perspective view, as viewed from behind, of an essentialportion of a refrigerator according to a second embodiment of thepresent invention.

In FIG. 4, 83 denotes a refrigerator body, and 84 denotes a compressorplaced within the machinery compartment 67. 85 denotes a cover forelectric elements mounted on a side surface of the compressor 84. 86denotes an opening defined in a portion of the refrigerator body forminga side wall of the machinery compartment 67, and 87 denotes a cover forcovering the opening 86. The cover 87 is secured to the refrigeratorbody 83 by means of, for example, screws (not shown).

In the above-described construction, it is not necessary to provide afist-sized space between the electric-element cover 85 and the side wallof the machinery compartment 67 for the purpose of attaching or removingthe electric-element cover 85, and the attachment or removal of theelectric-element cover 85 can be conducted from outside by removing thecover 87 from the side wall of the refrigerator body 83, making itpossible to reduce the installation space in the widthwise direction ofthe compressor 84.

As a result, the width of the machinery compartment 67 can be reduced,while the width of the cooling compartment 63 and that of the cooler 61can be increased. Accordingly, the height of the cooler 61 and that ofthe cooling compartment 63 can be reduced, providing a compact structureand further increasing the effective volume. Also, the electric-elementcover 85 can be readily attached or removed from the side of the sidewall of the refrigerator body 83, thus facilitating the maintenance ofthe finished goods.

(Embodiment 3)

FIG. 5 is a front view of a refrigerator according to a third embodimentof the present invention. FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view of therefrigerator according to the same embodiment. FIG. 7 is a sectionalview taken along line VII—VII in FIG. 5, while FIG. 8 is a sectionalview taken along line VIII—VIII in FIG. 5.

In FIGS. 5 to 8, 88 denotes a refrigerator body. 89 denotes a heatinsulating partition wall for partitioning the interior of therefrigerator body 88 into upper and lower chambers. The upper chamberincludes a refrigerating compartment 90 and a vegetable compartment 91formed below the refrigerating compartment 90, while the lower chamberincludes a freezing compartment 92. 93 denotes a plurality of shelvesdisposed at appropriate intervals within the refrigerating compartment90. A plurality of storage compartments 94 are formed betweenneighboring shelves 93. 95 denotes a low-temperature compartment formedwithin and at a lower portion of the refrigerating compartment 90 andaccommodating a storage container 96 for preserving perishable foodssuch as meats, fishery products and the like at a temperature below therefrigerating temperature (for example, a chilling temperature of about0° C., a partially freezing temperature of −3° C., etc.).

97 denotes a pivoted door for opening and closing an opening of therefrigerating compartment 90. 98 denotes a drawer-type door for openingand closing an opening of the vegetable compartment 91. The drawer-typedoor 98 can be drawn out together with a storage container 99 securedthereto and disposed within the cabinet. 100 denotes a drawer-type doorfor opening and closing an opening of the freezing compartment 92. Thedrawer-type door 100 can be drawn out together with a storage container101 secured thereto and disposed within the cabinet. 102 denotes asecond storage container disposed above the storage container 101 so asto be slidable back and forth.

103 denotes a machinery compartment formed at a lower rear portion ofthe refrigerator body 88 and accommodating a compressor 104 of arefrigerating cycle. The compressor 104 is juxtaposed with a cooler 106accommodated within the cabinet in a side-by-side fashion with a heatinsulating wall 105 interposed therebetween. Both the compressor and thecooler 106 are disposed rearwardly of the freezing compartment 92.Further, a condenser 107 is disposed below the freezing compartment 92.

A lower end surface of the cooler 106 is positioned lower than an upperend surface of the compressor 104 and, hence, the cooler 106 is disposedunevenly with respect to the compressor 104.

108 denotes an evaporating dish disposed below the cooler 106 forevaporating water produced by defrosting, and a condensation pipe 109extending from the compressor 104 to the condenser 107 is submergedunder water stored in the evaporating dish 108. 110 denotes a forceddraft fan disposed within the machinery compartment 103 for promotingair convection to the compressor 104, the condenser 107, and theevaporating dish 108.

111 denotes an air suction port defined in a front wall of the machinerycompartment 103 for sending air to the condenser 107, while 112 denotesan air discharge port defined in a front wall of the machinerycompartment 103. An airway communicating with the air suction port 111and an airway communicating with the air discharge port 112 arepartitioned by a partition plate 113. The forced draft fan 110 takes inair through the air suction port 111 and sends it to the condenser 107,the evaporating dish 108, and the compressor 104 in this order before itis discharged from the air discharge port 112.

114 denotes a forced draft fan disposed above and adjacent to the cooler106. 115 denotes a damper device juxtaposed with the forced draft fan114 in a side-by-side fashion and disposed above the compressor 104 forcontrolling the amount of chilly air supplied to the refrigeratingcompartment 90, the vegetable compartment 91, and the low-temperaturecompartment 95. 116 denotes a chilly-air discharge duct for introducingchilly air from the damper device 115 to the refrigerating compartment90 and the low-temperature compartment 95. The chilly-air discharge duct116 is disposed within the cabinet at a rear or deep portion thereof soas to extend vertically on one side thereof. The chilly-air dischargeduct 116 is covered with a rear ornamental plate 117 particularly in therefrigerating compartment 90, and has a plurality of chilly-airdischarge ports 118 defined therein so as to be open to respectivestorage compartments 94. 119 denotes a branch duct branched from thechilly-air discharge duct 116 and leading to the low-temperaturecompartment 95, and 120 denotes a chilly-air discharge port formed in anend portion of the branch duct 119 so as to be open to thelow-temperature compartment 95.

121 denotes a chilly-air suction duct for returning to the cooler 106chilly air that has cooled the refrigerating compartment 90, thevegetable compartment 91, and the low-temperature compartment 95. Thechilly-air suction duct 121 is disposed within the cabinet at a rearportion thereof so as to extend vertically on the other side thereof.The chilly-air suction duct 121 is covered with the rear ornamentalplate 117 particularly in the refrigerating compartment 90, and has aplurality of chilly-air suction ports 122 defined therein so as to beopen to respective storage compartments 94.

123 denotes a chilly-air suction port merging into the chilly-airsuction duct 121 and being open to a rear portion of the vegetablecompartment 91. 124 denotes a partition plate for partitioning thevegetable compartment 91 and the low-temperature compartment 95 fromeach other, and 125 denotes a communication port defined in thepartition plate 124 at a rear portion thereof. 126 denotes a chilly-airdischarge port formed in front of the forced draft fan 114 so as tocommunicate with the freezing compartment 92. 127 denotes a chilly-airsuction port formed in a rear wall of the freezing compartment 92 at alower portion thereof so as to communicate with a lower end portion ofthe cooler 106.

128 denotes a vertically extending electronic control board forcontrolling the operation of the electric component parts in therefrigerator. The electronic control board 128 is accommodated within arecess 129 positioned rearwardly of the cooler 106. 130 denotes a coverfor covering the machinery compartment 103 and the electronic controlboard 128 from behind. The electronic control board 128 and the coolingfunctional elements such as the cooler 106, the forced draft fan 114,the damper device 115 and the like are collected together at a locationrearwardly of the freezing compartment 92, while no cooling functionalelements are disposed rearwardly of the vegetable compartment 91 and thelow-temperature compartment 95 and, hence, respective storage containers99, 96 confront a heat insulating wall 131 constituting the refrigeratorbody 88 at locations rearwardly thereof.

132 denotes a defrosting heater disposed below the cooler 106, and 133denotes a drip pan for receiving water produced by defrosting with theuse of the defrosting heater 132. 134 denotes a discharge pipe connectedto the drip pan 133 for discharging the water in the drip pan 133 to theoutside. The water discharged through the discharge pipe 134 is receivedby and stored in the evaporating dish 108 disposed within the machinerycompartment and below the cooler 106.

135 denotes a temperature detector mounted on a rear wall of thefreezing compartment 92 for detecting the temperature inside thefreezing compartment. 136 denotes a temperature detector mounted on arear wall of the refrigerating compartment 90 for detecting thetemperature inside the refrigerating compartment.

The operation of the refrigerator of the above-described construction isexplained hereinafter.

When the temperature detected by the temperature detector 135 within thefreezing compartment is higher than a set value, the compressor 104 isoperated, and chilly air cooled by the cooler 106 is caused to forciblyflow by the forced draft fan 114 and is discharged into the freezingcompartment 92 via the chilly-air discharge port 126. Thereafter, thechilly air is returned to the cooler 106 via the chilly-air suction port127. When the temperature detected by the temperature detector 135becomes lower than the set value, the compressor 104 is stopped. Suchoperations are repeatedly carried out, and the interior of the freezingcompartment is cooled to, for example, a freezing temperature of −18° C.

When the temperatures detected by the temperature detectors 135, 136 arehigher than respective set values, the damper device 115 is opened, andthe chilly air cooled by the cooler 106 is caused to forcibly flow bythe forced draft fan 114 and is discharged into a side region of therefrigerating compartment 90 from the plurality of chilly-air dischargeports 118 via the chilly-air discharge duct 116 extending vertically inthe proximity of one side rear portion of the refrigerating compartment90. After the chilly air introduced into respective storage compartments94 has cooled foods placed on the shelves 93, the chilly air enters thechilly-air suction duct 121, which extends vertically in the proximityof the other side rear portion of the refrigerating compartment 90, viathe chilly-air suction ports 122 confronting respective storagecompartments 94, before it returns to a lower portion of the cooler 106.

In this way, the foods placed on each shelf 93 in the refrigeratingcompartment 90 are uniformly cooled by a stream of chilly air flowingfrom on e side to the other side in each storage compartment 94, thussuppressing variations in temperature inside the refrigeratingcompartment and reducing uneven quality of the foods stored therein.Also, because the chilly-air discharge duct 116 and the chilly-airsuction duct 121 are disposed on respective sides of a rear portion ofthe refrigerating compartment 90, a central space that is easy to use instoring foods is not violated, enhancing the storage capacity.

Further, in view of the external appearance, the chilly-air dischargeand suction ducts are covered with the rear ornamental plate 117 in therefrigerating compartment. However, because no air ducts are disposed ata central portion, unlike the conventional refrigerators in which aninwardly protruding central portion deteriorates the appearance, therear ornamental plate 117 can be so formed as to have a concave shape,enhancing the value in design. Also, an ineffectual volume that has beenhitherto created by the central air duct can be reduced, resulting in aincrease in storage capacity.

The chilly air entering the chilly-air suction duct 121 flowsdownwardly, returns to the lower portion of the cooler 106, and iscooled again by the cooler 106, while part of the chilly air that hascooled the interior of the refrigerating compartment 90 enters an upperportion of the vegetable compartment 91 from a communication port formedin a rear portion of the partition plate 124 without being drawn intothe chilly-air suction duct 121. Such chilly air flows around thestorage container 99 and indirectly cools foods in the storage container99. Accordingly, it is possible to preserve perishables such asvegetables, fruits and the like while restraining them from drying. Thechilly air after convection enters the chilly-air suction duct 121through the chilly-air suction port 123 in the rear wall of thevegetable compartment 91 and returns to the cooler 106.

On the other hand, part of the chilly air entering the damper de vice115 is distributed to the branch duct 119 and sent to thelow-temperature compartment 95 from the chilly-air discharge port 120.This chilly air cools the interior of the low-temperature compartment 95to a temperature lower than that in the refrigerating compartment 90 sothat perishables such as fishery products, meats and the like may bepreserved at a low temperature. The chilly air that has cooled thelow-temperature compartment 95 enters the vegetable compartment 91through the communication port 125.

When the temperature detected by the temperature detector 136 becomeslower than the set temperature, the damper device 115 is closed, and theabove operations are repeatedly carried out. As a result, the interiorof the refrigerating compartment 90 is cooled to and maintained at adesired temperature of, for example, 4° C. suited for cold storage, thatof the vegetable compartment 91 at a desired temperature of, forexample, 6° C. suited for both vegetables and fruits, and that of thelow-temperature compartment 95 at a desired chilling temperature of, forexample, 0° C.

In regard to the arrangement of the refrigerating cycle, the compressor104 is off to the side from the vertical centerline of the refrigeratorbody 88. As a result of reducing the ineffectual space within themachinery compartment 1O3, the width of the machinery compartment 103 isreduced to half the width of the refrigerator body 88. In considerationof the depth and height with which the cooling capacity is maintained,the cooler 106 is accommodated within the space newly created on theinner side of the refrigerator body by reducing the ineffectual space.

As a result, the compressor 104 and the cooler 106 are disposed in aside-by-side fashion with the heat insulating wall 105 interposedtherebetween. This arrangement makes it possible to minimize anineffectual space in the widthwise direction of the refrigerator, whichspace has hitherto been created by placing the cooler 106 above thecompressor 104, thus increasing the effective storage capacity.

With the side-by-side arrangement of the compressor 104 and the cooler106, both of which are heavy, the center of gravity of the refrigeratorbody 88 becomes lower than that of the conventional one, enhancing thestability.

Further, because the damper device 115 is provided by making good use ofthat space within the cabinet which is positioned above the compressor104 and laterally of the forced draft fan 114 disposed above the cooler106, all the cooler 106, the forced draft fan 114, and the damper device115 are efficiently placed rearwardly of the freezing compartment 92positioned at a lowermost portion of the refrigerator body 88, thusenhancing the mounting efficiency. Because of this, a new space foraccommodating the damper device 115 is not required, unlike theconventional refrigerator, resulting in an increase in storage volume.

Also, the arrangement in which the freezing compartment 92 and thecooler 106 are disposed adjacent to each other enhances the coolingefficiency. In regard to the refrigerating compartment other than thefreezing compartment, the forced draft fan 114 and the damper device 115are disposed adjacent to the cooler 106, and the chilly-air dischargeduct 116 extends immediately upwardly from the damper device 115 toreduce the resistance to flow, resulting in an increase in coolingefficiency.

Moreover, although the forced draft fan 114 is disposed above the cooler106, the former does not violate a rear space of the vegetablecompartment 91. Accordingly, the storage container 99 in the vegetablecompartment 91 can be extended to a position confronting the rear heatinsulating wall 131, making it possible to increase the storagecapacity. In place of increasing the storage capacity, the height of thevegetable compartment can be reduced. Because the vegetable compartmentbecomes shallow and wide, the interior thereof can be easily seen and,hence, the piling up of vegetables is reduced, resulting in aneasy-to-use vegetable compartment having a superior preserving ability.

In addition, because it is not necessary to provide a space foraccommodating the forced draft fan 114 at a position rearwardly of thevegetable compartment 91, the heat insulating partition wall 89interposed between the vegetable compartment 91 and the freezingcompartment 92 may not have a rising portion at a rear portion thereof,unlike the conventional refrigerator, thus reducing an ineffectualvolume and increasing the storage capacity.

Also, because it is not necessary to arrange the damper device 115behind the low-temperature compartment 95 or the refrigeratingcompartment 90, a lower region of the refrigerating compartment which iseasy to use in terms of level can be utilized to a deep portion as astorage portion, making it possible to realize an easy-to-userefrigerator.

The interior of the machinery compartment 103 is discussed hereinafter.As shown in FIG. 7, the operation of the forced draft fan 110 introducesair into the machinery compartment 103 through the air suction port 111in a front wall of a bottom portion of the refrigerator body 88, and theair thus introduced exchanges heat with the condenser 107 to promoteheat radiation therefrom and then flows above the evaporating dish 108.Water produced by defrosting and stored in the evaporating dish 108 isheated by a direct heating action of the condensation pipe 109 submergedunder water and is also heated and well-ventilated by forced convectionof warm air heat-exchanged with the condenser 107, resulting in anefficient evaporation. Having passed the evaporating dish 108, the aircools an external shell of the compressor 104 having a highertemperature and is then discharged forwardly of the refrigerator body 88through the air discharge port 112. A frost that has adhered to thecooler 106 during cooling is melted by the defrosting heater 132 and isreceived by the dip pan 133 before it reaches the evaporating dish 108through the discharge pipe 134. However, because the cooler 106 isdisposed above and adjacent to the evaporating dish 108, the dischargepipe 134 can be shortened, making it possible to simplify the structure.

As described above, the condenser 107 and the evaporating dish 108 canbe efficiently accommodated by making good use of a space at a bottomportion of the refrigerator body 88. While maintaining the condensingability of the condenser 107, the evaporating ability of the evaporatingdish 108, and the efficiency and reliability of the compressor 104 bycirculating cooled air within the machinery compartment 103 using theforce draft fan 110, the machinery compartment can be made compact,making it possible to increase the storage space within the cabinet.

Further, because the electronic control board 128 for driving andcontrolling electric component parts is accommodated within a recess inan external surface positioned rearwardly of the cooler 106, theelectronic control board 128 is positioned close to the electriccomponent parts such as the compressor 104, the forced draft fans 110,114, the damper device 115, the defrosting heater 132, and the like,making it possible to shorten and simplify electric wires, reduce thecost, and enhance the workability. Also, complicated wiring is reduced,thus reducing the influence of radio noise disorder, for example.

From the viewpoint of the mounting efficiency of the cooling functionalelements and the control elements, because almost all of them arecollectively disposed rearwardly of and below the freezing compartment92, the refrigerator can be designed compact with a very high mountingefficiency. Because of this, not only can pipes in the refrigeratingcycle be shortened but the piping arrangement can also be simplified,making it possible to reduce the cost and enhance the assemblingworkability. In addition, if such elements are assembled into a blockstructure in advance, which is in turn incorporated into therefrigerator body 88, the working processes can be remarkablysimplified. Also, the block structure is easy to cope with the commonuse or standardization of the component parts, making it possible tofurther reduce the cost and rationalize the production line.

The volume created by enhancing the mounting efficiency of the coolingfunctional elements and the control elements can be directly utilized toincrease the storage volume or reduce the external size of therefrigerator body 88 for a reduction in installation space. In thatcase, the length by which the refrigerator protrudes forwardly from acupboard or the like can be reduced by reducing the depth of therefrigerator, or the interior of a kitchen can be improved in conformitywith the standards for systematic kitchens.

Alternatively, the increased volume can be used for a heat insulatingvolume. Energy saving can be achieved or the size of the component partsof the refrigerating cycle such as the compressor 104 and the like canbe reduced by reducing the amount of heat absorption of therefrigerator, resulting in a reduction in cost.

(Embodiment 4)

FIG. 9 is a front view of a refrigerator according to a fourthembodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a vertical sectionalview of the refrigerator according to the same embodiment. FIG. 11 is asectional view taken along line XI—XI in FIG. 9.

In FIGS. 9 to 11, 137 denotes a forced draft fan disposed at an upperrear portion of the refrigerating compartment 90 for circulating air.138 denotes an air discharge duct mounted on a top wall of therefrigerating compartment 90 so as to communicate with the dischargeside of the forced draft fan 137. 139 denotes an air suction duct formedat a central portion behind a rear ornamental plate 140 so as tocommunicate with the suction side of the forced draft fan 137. 142denotes an air discharge port defined in a front portion of the airdischarge duct 138, and 143 denotes an air suction port defined in therear ornamental plate 140 so as to communicated with the air suctionduct 139 at an appropriate portion of the refrigerating compartment 90.

The air circulating forced draft fan 137 is operated for a predeterminedperiod of time when the damper device 115 is opened and after the door97 of the refrigerating compartment has been closed.

The operation of the refrigerator of the above-described construction isexplained hereinafter.

When the temperatures detected by the temperature detectors 135, 136 arehigher than respective set values, the damper device 115 is opened, andthe chilly air cooled by the cooler 106 is caused to forcibly flow bythe forced draft fan 114 and is discharged into a side region of therefrigerating compartment 90 from the plurality of chilly-air dischargeports 118 via the chilly-air discharge duct 116 extending vertically inthe proximity of a side rear portion of the refrigerating compartment90. After the chilly air introduced into respective storage compartments94 has cooled foods placed on the shelves 93, the chilly air enters thechilly-air suction duct 121, which extends vertically in the proximityof the other side rear portion of the refrigerating compartment 90, viathe chilly-air suction ports 122 confronting respective storagecompartments 94, before it returns to a lower portion of the cooler 106.

At the same time, the air circulating forced draft fan 137 is operatedso that the air inside the refrigerating compartment 90 may beintroduced into the air suction duct 139 through the air suction port143. The air is then discharged into an upper front portion of therefrigerating compartment from the air discharge port 142 through theair discharge duct 138 on the top wall. The forced circulation of theair inside the refrigerating compartment 90 promotes convection andfurther reduces uneven cooling. In particular, low-temperature air thatis apt to stay at a lower portion of the refrigerating compartment 90 issucked up and circulated towards a rear region of the door 97 and anupper region of the refrigerating compartment 90 where the cooled air ishard to reach and, hence, the temperature is apt to become high.

Even if the temperature inside the refrigerating compartment 90 risesdue to an air exchange with the open air caused by opening the door 97the air circulating forced draft fan 137 is operated for thepredetermined period of time after the door 97 has been closed topromote the cooling of the interior of the refrigerating compartment,making it possible to suppress a temperature rise inside therefrigerating compartment 90.

In addition to the above-described control method, the air circulatingforced draft fan 137 may be controlled such that it may be operatedintermittently at appropriate time intervals, even if the damper device115 is closed, to compensate for a temperature rise that may occur at anupper portion of the refrigerating compartment during the closure of thedamper device, or it may be operated, even when the door 97 is opened,to flow air from the front portion of the top wall, like an air curtain,to prevent entry of the external air.

In this way, the foods stored within the refrigerating compartment 90are uniformly cooled by a stream of chilly air flowing from one side tothe other side in each storage compartment 94. At the same time,temperature variations inside the refrigerating compartment are furthersuppressed by the circulating action of the air circulating forced draftfan 137. As a result, the quality of foods is stabilized, making itpossible to realize a refrigerator being superior in the preservingability.

(Embodiment 5)

FIG. 12 is a front view of a refrigerator according to a fifthembodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a vertical sectionalview of the refrigerator according to the same embodiment.

In FIGS. 12 and 13, 144 denotes a refrigerator body. 145 denotes a heatinsulating partition wall for partitioning the interior of therefrigerator body 144 into upper and lower chambers. 146 denotes asecond heat insulating partition wall. A freezing compartment 92 isformed below the heat insulating partition wall 145, while arefrigerating compartment 147 and a vegetable compartment 148 providedbelow the refrigerating compartment 147 are formed above the second heatinsulating partition wall 146. A multipurpose compartment 149 is formedbetween the heat insulating partition wall 145 and the second heatinsulating partition wall 146. The multipurpose compartment 149 isdesigned such that the internal temperature can be switched to a desiredone in a temperature zone allowing both the refrigerating and thefreezing depending on uses of the user.

150 denotes a plurality of shelves disposed at appropriate intervalswithin the refrigerating compartment 147. A plurality of storagecompartments 151 are formed between neighboring shelves 150. 152 denotesa low-temperature compartment formed within and at a lower portion ofthe refrigerating compartment 147 and accommodating a storage container153 for preserving perishable foods such as meats, fishery products andthe like at a temperature below the refrigerating temperature (forexample, a chilling temperature of about 0° C., a partially freezingtemperature of −3° C., etc.).

154 denotes a pivoted door for opening and closing an opening of therefrigerating compartment 147. 155 denotes a drawer-type door foropening and closing an opening of the vegetable compartment 148. Thedrawer-type door 155 can be drawn out together with a storage container156 secured thereto and disposed within the cabinet. 157 denotes adrawer-type door for opening and closing an opening of the multipurposecompartment 149. The drawer-type door 157 can be drawn out together witha storage container 158 secured thereto and disposed within the cabinet.

159 and 160 denote a damper device and a second damper device, bothjuxtaposed with the forced draft fan 114 in a side-by-side fashion anddisposed above the compressor 104. Both the damper devices 159, 160 aredriven by a single electric motor 161. The damper device 159 controlsthe amount of chilly air supplied to the refrigerating compartment 147,the vegetable compartment 148 and the low-temperature compartment 152,while the second damper device 160 controls the amount of chilly airsupplied to the multipurpose compartment 149.

162 denotes a chilly-air discharge duct for introducing chilly air fromthe damper device 159 to the refrigerating compartment 147 and thelow-temperature compartment 152. The chilly-air discharge duct 162 isdisposed within the cabinet at a rear portion thereof so as to extendvertically on one side thereof. The chilly-air discharge duct 162 iscovered with a rear ornamental plate 163 particularly in therefrigerating compartment 147, and has a plurality of chilly-airdischarge ports 164 defined therein so as to be open to respectivestorage compartments 151. 165 denotes a branch duct branched from thechilly-air discharge duct 162 and leading to the low-temperaturecompartment 152, and 166 denotes a chilly-air discharge port formed inan end portion of the branch duct 165 so as to be open to thelow-temperature compartment 152.

167 denotes a second chilly-air discharge duct for introducing chillyair from the second damper device 160 to the multipurpose compartment149, while 168 denotes a chilly-air discharge port formed in an endportion of the chilly-air discharge duct 167 so as to be open to themultipurpose compartment 149.

169 denotes a chilly-air suction duct for returning to the cooler 106chilly air that has cooled the refrigerating compartment 147, thevegetable compartment 148, and the low-temperature compartment 152. Thechilly-air suction duct 169 is disposed within the cabinet at a rearportion thereof so as to extend vertically on the other side thereof.The chilly-air suction duct 169 is covered with the rear ornamentalplate 163 particularly in the refrigerating compartment 147, and has aplurality of chilly-air suction ports 170 defined therein so as to beopen to respective storage compartments 151.

171 denotes a chilly-air suction port merging into the chilly-airsuction duct 169 and being open to a rear portion of the vegetablecompartment 148. 172 denotes a partition plate for partitioning thevegetable compartment 148 and the low-temperature compartment 152 fromeach other, and 173 denotes a communication port defined in thepartition plate 172 at a rear portion thereof. 174 denotes a secondchilly-air suction duct for returning to the cooler 106 chilly air thathas cooled the multipurpose compartment 149, and 175 denotes achilly-air suction port being open to a rear portion of the multipurposecompartment 149 and communicating with the second chilly-air suctionduct 174.

The electronic control board 128 employed as a cooling control elementand the cooling functional elements such as the cooler 106, the forceddraft fan 114, the damper device 159, the second damper device 160 andthe like are collected together at a location rearwardly of the freezingcompartment 92, while no cooling functional elements are disposedrearwardly of the vegetable compartment 148, the multipurposecompartment 149, and the low-temperature compartment 152 and, hence,respective storage containers 156, 158, 153 confront an inner wall ofthe refrigerator body 144 at locations rearwardly thereof.

176 denotes a temperature detector mounted on a rear wall of therefrigerating compartment 147 for detecting the temperature inside therefrigerating compartment, while 177 denotes a temperature detectormounted on a rear wall of the multipurpose compartment 149 for detectingthe temperature inside the multipurpose compartment.

The operation of the refrigerator having the above-describedconstruction is explained hereinafter.

When the temperature detected by the temperature detector 135 within thefreezing compartment is higher than a set value, the compressor 104 isoperated, and chilly air cooled by the cooler 106 is caused to forciblyflow by the forced draft fan 114 and is discharged into the freezingcompartment 92 via the chilly-air discharge port 126. Thereafter, thechilly air is returned to the cooler 106 via the chilly-air suction port127. When the temperature detected by the temperature detector 135becomes lower than the set value, the compressor 104 is stopped. Suchoperations are repeatedly carried out, and the interior of the freezingcompartment is cooled to, for example, a freezing temperature of −18° C.

When the temperatures detected by the temperature detectors 135, 176 arehigher than respective set values, the damper device 159 is opened, andthe chilly air cooled by the cooler 106 is caused to forcibly flow bythe forced draft fan 114 and is discharged into a side region of therefrigerating compartment 147 from the plurality of chilly-air dischargeports 164 via the chilly-air discharge duct 162 extending vertically inthe proximity of one side rear portion of the refrigerating compartment147. After the chilly air introduced into respective storagecompartments 151 has cooled foods placed on the shelves 150, the chillyair enters the chilly-air suction duct 169, which extends vertically inthe proximity of the other side rear portion of the refrigeratingcompartment 147, via the chilly-air suction ports 170 confrontingrespective storage compartments 151, before it returns to a lowerportion of the cooler 106.

In this way, the foods placed on each shelf 150 in the refrigeratingcompartment 147 are uniformly cooled by a stream of chilly air flowingfrom one side to the other side in each storage compartment 151, thussuppressing variations in temperature inside the refrigeratingcompartment and reducing uneven quality of the foods stored therein.Also, because the chilly-air discharge duct 162 and the chilly-airsuction duct 169 are disposed on respective sides of a rear portion ofthe refrigerating compartment 147, a central space that is easy to usein storing foods is not violated, enhancing the storage capacity.

Further, in view of the external appearance, the chilly-air dischargeand suction ducts are covered with the rear ornamental plate 163 in therefrigerating compartment. However, because no air ducts are disposed ata central portion, unlike the conventional refrigerators in which aninwardly protruding central portion deteriorates the appearance, therear ornamental plate 163 can be so formed as to have a concave shape,enhancing the value in design. Also, an ineffectual volume that has beenhitherto created by the central air duct can be reduced, resulting in aincrease in storage capacity.

The chilly air entering the chilly-air suction duct 169 flowsdownwardly, returns to the lower portion of the cooler 106, and iscooled again by the cooler 106, while part of the chilly air that hascooled the interior of the refrigerating compartment 147 enters an upperportion of the vegetable compartment 148 from a communication port 173formed in a rear portion of the partition plate 172 without being drawninto the chilly-air suction duct 169. Such chilly air flows around thestorage container 156 and indirectly cools foods in the storagecontainer 156. Accordingly, it is possible to preserve perishables suchas vegetables, fruits and the like while restraining them from drying.The chilly air after convection enters the chilly-air suction duct 169through the chilly-air suction port 171 in the rear wall of thevegetable compartment 148 and returns to the cooler 106.

On the other hand, part of the chilly air flowing through the chilly-airdischarge duct 162 is distributed to the branch duct 165 and sent to thelow-temperature compartment 152 from the chilly-air discharge port 166.This chilly air cools the interior of the low-temperature compartment152 to a temperature lower than that in the refrigerating compartment147 so that perishables such as fishery products, meats and the like maybe preserved at a low temperature. The chilly air that has cooled thelow-temperature compartment 152 enters the vegetable compartment 148through the communication port 173.

When the temperature detected by the temperature detector 176 becomeslower than the set temperature, the damper device 159 is closed, and theabove operations are repeatedly carried out. As a result, the interiorof the refrigerating compartment 147 is cooled to and maintained at adesired temperature of, for example, 4° C. suited for cold storage, thatof the vegetable compartment 148 at a desired temperature of, forexample, 6° C. suited for both vegetables and fruits, and that of thelow-temperature compartment 152 at a desired chilling temperature of,for example, 0° C.

When the temperatures detected by the temperature detectors 135, 177 arehigher than respective set values, the second damper device 160 isopened, and the chilly air cooled by the cooler 106 is caused toforcibly flow by the forced draft fan 114 and sent to the multipurposecompartment 149 from the chilly-air discharge port 168 via the secondchilly-air discharge duct 167. The chilly air that has cooled themultipurpose compartment 149 enters the second chilly-air suction duct174 from the chilly-air suction port 175 and is returned to the cooler106.

Because the temperature inside the multipurpose compartment 149 can beoptionally switched depending on the user's convenience or liking, thedegree of opening of the second damper device 160 changes according tothe user's selection, making it possible to maintain the interior of themultipurpose compartment 152 in a desired temperature zone. Further,because the multipurpose compartment 149 is interposed between the heatinsulating partition wall 145 and the second heat insulating partitionwall 146 and is, hence, insulated from the vegetable compartment 148positioned above it and the freezing compartment 92 positioned below it,the temperature inside it can be switched in a wide temperature rangecovering both the refrigerating temperature zone and the freezingtemperature zone, and can be set to a refrigerating temperature of 4°C., a chilling temperature of 0° C., a freezing temperature of −18° C.,or the like. Thus, the degree of freedom in storing foods is increasedand, hence, the refrigerator capable of absorbing variations in foodsdepending on seasonal variation can be provided.

When the temperature detected by the temperature detector 177 becomeslower than the set value, the second damper device 160 is closed. Thisoperation is repeatedly carried out, and the interior of themultipurpose compartment 149 is cooled to and maintained at a desiredtemperature.

The multipurpose compartment 149 is provided with a drawer-type door157, with which a storage container 156 can be easily drawn out at alevel that is easy to take foods in and out. That is, because themultipurpose compartment 149 is positioned between the vegetablecompartment 148 and the freezing compartment 92 at a level slightlylower than the center of the refrigerator body 144, it is easy to use.In addition, the storage container 156 is appropriately shallow and easyto put foods in order. Accordingly, if foods that are frequently usedare stored in the multipurpose compartment 92, the utility thereofbecomes high.

Further, although the forced draft fan 114 is disposed above the cooler106, it does not violate the rear space of the vegetable compartment 148and that of the multipurpose compartment 149. Accordingly, the storagecontainer 156 of the vegetable compartment 149 and the storage container158 of the multipurpose compartment 149 can be extended deep into therefrigerator body, making it possible to increase the storage capacity.In place of increasing the storage capacity, it is also possible toreduce the height of the vegetable compartment 148. In that case,because the vegetable compartment 148 becomes shallow and wide, theinterior thereof can be easily seen and, hence, the piling up ofvegetables is reduced, resulting in an easy-to-use vegetable compartmenthaving a superior preserving ability.

Also, because it is not necessary to arrange the damper device 159 andthe second damper device 160 at a location rearwardly of thelow-temperature compartment 152 and the refrigerating compartment 147, alower region of the refrigerating compartment that is easiest to use interms of level can be fully utilized as far as a rear wall thereof,making it possible to realize an easy-to-use refrigerator.

(Embodiment 6)

FIG. 14 is a front view of a refrigerator according to a sixthembodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 14, 178 denotes a refrigerator body, and 179 denotes a heatinsulating partition wall for partitioning the interior of therefrigerator body 178 into upper and lower chambers. The upper chamberincludes an upper storage compartment 180, while the lower chamberincludes a lower storage compartment 181. 182 denotes a partition wallfor vertically partitioning the lower storage compartment 181 into afirst lower storage compartment 183 and a second lower storagecompartment 184.

185 denotes a compressor of a refrigerating cycle, and 186 denotes acooler. The compressor 185 and the cooler 186 are juxtaposed with eachother in a side-by-side fashion at a location rearwardly of the lowerstorage compartment 181. 187 denotes a forced draft fan disposedadjacent to an upper portion of the cooler 186, and 188 denotes a damperdevice for controlling the amount of chilly air supplied to the upperstorage compartment 180. The forced draft fan 187 and the damper device188 are collectively disposed rearwardly of the lower storagecompartment 181.

The above-described construction in which the two storage compartmentsare positioned on left and right sides is often applied to large andwide refrigerators and, hence, the compressor 185 and the cooler 186 aregenerally large. However, by arranging the compressor 185 and the cooler186 in a side-by-side fashion over the full width of a region rearwardlyof the lower storage compartment 181 irrespective of the position of thepartition wall 182 between the two storage compartments, it becomespossible to collectively arrange the cooling functional elementsincluding the forced draft fan 187 and the damper device 188.

This arrangement makes it possible to minimize an ineffectual space inthe widthwise direction of the refrigerator, which space has hithertobeen created by placing the cooler 186 above the compressor 185, thusincreasing the effective storage capacity. This effect is particularlyremarkable in wide refrigerators.

Moreover, although the forced draft fan 187 is disposed above the cooler186, it does not violate a rear space of the upper storage compartment180. Accordingly, a lower region of the upper storage compartment 180that is easy to use in terms of level can be fully utilized as far as arear wall thereof, making it possible to realize an easy-to-userefrigerator.

(Embodiment 7)

FIG. 15 is a front view of a refrigerator according to a seventhembodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 15, 189 denotes a refrigerator body, and 190 denotes a partitionwall for partitioning the interior of the lower storage compartment 181into a first lower storage compartment 191 and a second lower storagecompartment 192.

193 denotes a compressor of a refrigerating cycle, and 194 denotes acooler. The compressor 193 is disposed at a location rearwardly of thefirst lower storage compartment 191, while the cooler 194 is juxtaposedwith the compressor 193 in a side-by-side fashion at a locationrearwardly of the second lower storage compartment 192.

In general, the portion where the compressor 193 is accommodated has araised bottom and, hence, the storage compartment formed in front of itdoes not a sufficient capacity in most cases. In the above-describedconstruction, however, the compressor 193 does not extend over the twostorage compartments, but the position thereof is limited only behindthe first lower storage compartment 191. Accordingly, the neighboringstorage compartment, i.e., the second lower storage compartment 192 canbe utilized to the full.

The first lower storage compartment 191 that does not have a sufficientcapacity can be effectively utilized for storing small foods.

The side-by-side arrangement of the compressor 193 and he cooler 194increases the inner volumetric efficiency and offers the same effect asin the other embodiments.

What is claimed is:
 1. A refrigerator which comprises a refrigeratingcycle including a compressor, a condenser and a cooler, and arefrigerator body having a storage compartment defined therein,characterized in that the compressor and the cooler are juxtaposed witheach other in a side-by-side fashion at a location rearwardly of thestorage compartment.
 2. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 1,characterized in that the compressor and the coolers are positioned at alower rear region of the storage compartment.
 3. The refrigerator asclaimed in claim 1, characterized in that there are further provided amachinery compartment and a cooling compartment positioned on left andright sides, respectively, with a heat insulating wall positionedtherebetween, said compressor and said cooler being accommodated withinthe machinery compartment and the cooling compartment, respectively. 4.The refrigerator as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that a forcedraft fan is provided in the cooling compartment for supplying air tothe storage compartment and is positioned rearwardly of the storagecompartment provided with the cooler.
 5. The refrigerator as claimed inclaim 4, characterized in that a damper device is provided forcontrolling an amount of chilly air to be supplied to at least one ofthe storage compartments and is positioned rearwardly of the storagecompartment confronting the compressor.
 6. The refrigerator as claimedin claim 5, characterized in that the forced draft fan is disposed abovethe cooler and the damper device is disposed above the compressor. 7.The refrigerator as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the forceddraft fan is disposed adjacent to an upper portion of the cooler so asto extend obliquely upwardly.
 8. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 5,characterized in that the plural storage compartments have at leastrefrigerating and freezing compartments, the damper device is providedfor controlling an amount of chilly air to be supplied to saidrefrigerating compartment, and the compressor and the cooler aredisposed rearwardly of the freezing compartment.
 9. The refrigerator asclaimed in claim 8, characterized in that the refrigerating compartmentis formed at an upper portion of the refrigerator body and the freezingcompartment is formed at a lower portion of the refrigerator body. 10.The refrigerator as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that avegetable compartment is formed below the refrigerating compartment andan amount of chilly air to be supplied to the refrigerating compartmentand the vegetable compartment is controlled by the damper device. 11.The refrigerator as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that the cooleris positioned rearwardly of the freezing compartment and the forceddraft fan is disposed at a location upwardly rearwardly of the freezingcompartment.
 12. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 8, characterizedin that a chilly air discharge duct communicating between the damperdevice and the refrigerating compartment is disposed vertically at aposition adjacent one lateral end of a deep region of the refrigeratingcompartment and a chilly air suction duct leading to the cooler isdisposed vertically at a position adjacent the opposite lateral end ofthe deep region of the refrigerating compartment.
 13. The refrigeratoras claimed in claim 12, characterized in that a chilly air dischargeport provided in the chilly air discharge duct and a chilly air suctionport provided in the chilly air suction duct are disposed adjacentrespective lateral ends of the refrigerating compartment.
 14. Therefrigerator as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that there isprovided a second forced draft fan for circulating air inside therefrigerating compartment.
 15. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 3,characterized in that an electric component cover of the compressor isdisposed so as to be oriented towards an open side rearwardly of themachinery compartment.
 16. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 3,characterized in that an electric component cover of the compressor isdisposed at a location laterally of the machinery compartment and inthat there is provided an opening and a cover for covering the openingat a portion confronting the electric component cover.
 17. Therefrigerator as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that piping for therefrigerating cycle is accommodated rearwardly of an outdoor side of thecooling compartment.
 18. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 17,characterized in that there is provided a fixture for fixing a dryer anda condenser piping of the refrigerating cycle to an outdoor rear surfaceof the refrigerating compartment.
 19. The refrigerator as claimed inclaim 3, characterized in that a resinous molded product is used for anexternal shell forming the machinery compartment.
 20. The refrigeratoras claimed in claim 19, characterized in that the resinous moldedproduct used for the external shell forming the machinery compartment isformed integrally with a fixture for fixing a dryer and a condenserpiping of the refrigerating cycle.
 21. The refrigerator as claimed inclaim 19, characterized in that the resinous molded product used for theexternal shell-forming the machinery compartment is formed integrallywith a holder for holding the evaporating dish that accommodatesdefrosted water.
 22. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 1,characterized in that the cooler and the compressor are positioned atdifferent levels, with a bottom end surface of the cooler positioned ata level lower than an upper end surface of the compressor.
 23. Therefrigerator as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that an electroniccontrol board is disposed rearwardly of the cooler.
 24. The refrigeratoras claimed in claim 23, characterized in that the electronic controlboard is accommodated within an electric component storage recessdefined in a heat insulating wall rearwardly of the cooler.
 25. Therefrigerator as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that an evaporatingdish is disposed below the cooler for receiving defrosted water from thecooler.
 26. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 1, characterized inthat an additional forced draft fan is provided for forcibly cooling thecompressor within a machinery compartment.
 27. The refrigerator asclaimed in claim 26, characterized in that the condenser is disposedwithin the machinery compartment and is forcibly cooled by theadditional forced draft fan.
 28. The refrigerator as claimed in claim27, characterized in that a portion of the condenser is disposed at aposition where the evaporating dish is heated.
 29. The refrigerator asclaimed in claim 26, characterized in that the condenser is disposed ata bottom of the refrigerator body and is forcibly cooled by theadditional forced draft fan.
 30. The refrigerator as claimed in claim26, characterized in that the evaporating dish is disposed in a passagefor flow of the air induced by the force draft fan.
 31. The refrigeratoras claimed in claim 30, characterized in that the compressor is disposedupstream of the forced draft fan and the evaporating dish is disposeddownstream of the forced draft fan and in that heat of the compressor isguided towards the evaporating dish.
 32. A refrigerator which comprisesa refrigerating cycle including a compressor, a condenser and a cooler,and a refrigerator body having a plurality of storage compartmentsdefined therein, characterized in that the compressor and the cooler arejuxtaposed with each other in a side-by-side fashion at a locationrearwardly of one of the storage compartments.
 33. The refrigerator asclaimed in claim 32, characterized in that one of the storagecompartments positioned forwardly of the compressor and the cooler is alowermost storage compartment.
 34. A refrigerator which comprises arefrigerating cycle including a compressor, a condenser and a cooler,and a refrigerator body having a plurality of storage compartmentsdefined therein, two of which are positioned in a side-by-side fashion,characterized in that the compressor and the cooler are juxtaposed witheach other at a location rearwardly of the two storage compartments. 35.The refrigerator as claimed in claim 34, characterized in that thecompressor and the cooler are disposed rearwardly of the two storagecompartments, respectively.
 36. A refrigerator comprising arefrigerating compartment, a vegetable compartment defined below therefrigerating compartment, a freezing compartment partitioned from thevegetable compartment by a heat insulating partition wall disposed belowthe vegetable compartment, a machinery compartment defined adjacent oneof opposite sides and rearwardly of the freezing compartment, a coolingcompartment defined adjacent the other of the opposite sides andseparated from the machinery compartment by a heat insulating wall, acompressor disposed within the machinery compartment, a cooler disposedwithin the cooling compartment, a forced draft fan disposed within thecooling compartment at a location adjacent an upper portion of thecooler, a damper device disposed rearwardly of the freezing compartmentfor controlling an amount of chilly air to be supplied to therefrigerating and vegetable compartments, and an electronic controlboard provided rearwardly of the cooling compartment, said compressorand said cooler being juxtaposed with each other in a side-by-sidefashion.
 37. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 36, characterized inthat there are provided a multipurpose compartment defined above theheat insulating partition wall and a second damper device disposedrearwardly of the freezing compartment for controlling an amount ofchilly air to be supplied to the multipurpose compartment.
 38. Therefrigerator as claimed in claim 37, characterized in that there arefurther provided a chilly air discharge duct extending vertically at alocation adjacent one side end of a deep region of the refrigeratingcompartment in communication with the damper device, a chilly airdischarge port provided in the chilly air discharge duct within therefrigerating compartment, a second chilly air discharge ductcommunicating between the second damper device and the multipurposecompartment, a chilly air discharge port provided in the second chillyair discharge port for the multipurpose compartment, a chilly airsuction duct extending vertically at a location adjacent the oppositeside end of the deep region of the refrigerating compartment forcommunicating between the refrigerating compartment and the cooler, achilly air suction port provided in the chilly air suction duct withinthe refrigerating compartment, a chilly air suction port provided withinthe vegetable compartment in communication with the chilly air suctionduct, a second chilly air suction duct communicating between themultipurpose compartment and the cooler, and a chilly air suction portprovided in the multipurpose compartment and communicating with thesecond chilly air suction duct.
 39. The refrigerator as claimed in claim37, characterized in that there are further provided heat insulatingpartition walls above and below the multipurpose compartment, to therebyrender it to be a temperture changeover compartment so that thetemperature inside the multipurpose compartment can be adjusted to avalue ranging from refrigeration to freezing.
 40. The refrigerator asclaimed in claim 36, characterized in that there are further provided achilly air discharge duct extending vertically at a location adjacentone side end of a deep region of the refrigerating compartment incommunication with the damper device, a chilly air discharge portprovided in the chilly air discharge duct within the refrigeratingcompartment, a chilly air suction duct extending vertically at alocation adjacent the opposite side end of the deep region of therefrigerating compartment for communicating between the refrigeratingcompartment and the cooler, a chilly air suction port provided in thechilly air suction duct within the refrigerating compartment, and achilly air suction port provided within the vegetable compartment incommunication with the chilly air suction duct.